Immunizations Updates: The Return of Measles (S13 Ep.84)

Welcome to our vaccine-focused mini-series, "Immunizations Updates"! Today we will use data from the United States' measles resurgence following the 2025 outbreak to explore what every pediatric provider needs to know as cases continue to climb. We walk through how measles slipped toward losing its elimination status, how today’s clinicians can rapidly rebuild their diagnostic instincts, and what early symptoms are most likely to be missed. We also break down high‑risk groups, key clinical clues, key references, practice tips, and highlights from Lyles & Carson’s recent 2026 reference for prevention and post-exposure prophylaxis for children with inflammatory bowel disease. Along the way, we’ll discuss practical strategies for vaccine advocacy, documentation, differential diagnosis, and post‑exposure management, giving you the tools to protect vulnerable kids and strengthen vaccine confidence in their communities.

Website: www.thepedsnp.come

Contact: thepedsnp@gmail.com

Instagram: @thepedsnppodcast

AACN Essentials Mapping (Domain. sub-competency):

1.1f, 1.2g, 1.2h, 1.2i, 1.3d,

2.1d, 2.2j, 2.4g

3.1m, 3.2e, 3.3c, 3.3e, 3.3f, 3.5f, 3.5g, 3.6g

4.1i, 4.2f, 4.2k, 4.3e

9.1i, 9.2i, 9.3i

10.1c, 10.2g, 102i, 10.3l, 10.3o 

References:

American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP]. (2026). Measles Infection Prevention and Control Frequently Asked Questions. Patient Care. https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/measles/measles-frequently-asked-questions/#:~:text=Because%20measles%20in%20HCP%20has,of%20serologic%20immunity%20is%20demonstrated.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (2026, February 20). Measles cases and outbreaks. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html

Do, L. A. H., & Mulholland, K. (2025). Measles 2025. The New England Journal of Medicine, 392(25), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra2504516

Kiang, M. V., Bubar, K. M., Maldonado, Y., Hotez, P. J., & Lo, N. C. (2025). Modeling reemergence of vaccine-eliminated infectious diseases under declining vaccination in the US. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.70336

Imdad, A., Mayo-Wilson, E., Haykal, M. R., Regan, A., Sidhu, J., Smith, A., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2022). Vitamin A supplementation for preventing morbidity and mortality in children from six months to five years of age. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 3(3), CD008524. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008524.pub4

Lyles, J. L., & Carson, R. A. (2026). Prevention and post-exposure prophylaxis for measles in children with inflammatory bowel disease. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 10.1002/jpn3.70336. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpn3.70336

National Institutes of Health. (2025). Vitamin A and carotenoids. Health Information. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/

Rhodesia, R.E. (2025). Public health wake-up call: Will the US lose measles elimination status? News. Contagion Live. https://www.contagionlive.com/view/public-health-wake-up-call-will-the-us-lose-measles-elimination-status-

Sheikh, I.N., Kamdar, K.Y., & Ardura, M.I. (2023). Ensure proper immunization for patients who received chemotherapy or transplantation. AAP News. https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/23569/Ensure-proper-immunization-for-patients-who?autologincheck=redirected

World Health Organization [WHO]. (2024). Provisional measles and rubella data. Retrieved from https://immunizationdata.who.int/global?topic=Provisional-measles-and-rubella-data

WHO. (2025). Measles. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/measles